A system and method of dynamically altering the encoding, structure or other attribute of a cryptographic key, typically a license activation key, to render useless keys that have been created by illegal key generation “cracks”. An encoding/decoding engine provides a plurality of key obfuscation algorithms that may alter the structure, encoding or any other attribute of a given key. A changeable combination code is supplied to the encoding/decoding engine that specifies a subset of the algorithms to apply during the encoding or decoding phase. The encoding engine is used during key generation and the decoding engine used during key usage. The same combination code must be used during decoding as was used during encoding to recover the original key or a valid key will not be recovered. Thus, a system can be rapidly re-keyed by selecting a new combination of encoding/decoding algorithms. The selection of algorithms comprises a combination code. The new combination code will result in keys that are incompatible with any existing illegal key generators.
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1. A method for utilizing a mangled installation key for invalidating an illegally produced key in a computer license validation system having an encoder and decoder, the method comprising the steps of: storing a master set comprising a plurality of predetermined key obfuscation algorithms on a non-transitory computer-readable medium in the computer license validation system; designating a combination code that specifies selected ones of the predetermined key obfuscation algorithms stored in the master set to be included in a subset and providing the combination code to the encoder and the decoder before any installation key is obtained, the key obfuscation algorithms in the subset being selected from among the predetermined key obfuscation algorithms in the stored master set and not including all of the predetermined key obfuscation algorithms of the master set; obtaining an installation key; generating, by a microprocessor functionally executing the encoder, a combination key by processing seed data with the subset of key obfuscation algorithms specified by the combination code; generating the mangled installation key by processing the installation key with the combination key; and decoding, by a second microprocessor functionally executing the decoder, the mangled installation key by processing the mangled installation key with the algorithms specified by the combination code.
A software licensing method prevents illegal key generation by modifying license keys. The system uses a set of encryption algorithms stored on a computer. Before generating any keys, the system selects a subset of these algorithms based on a "combination code," which is provided to both the key generator (encoder) and the key validator (decoder). When a user attempts to install the software using an "installation key," the system generates a "combination key" by processing seed data with the selected subset of obfuscation algorithms specified by the combination code. Then, a "mangled installation key" is created by processing the original "installation key" with the generated "combination key." During validation, the "mangled installation key" is processed by the decoder using the same subset of algorithms as defined by the "combination code," potentially recovering the original, valid installation key, thus preventing the use of illegally generated keys.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the installation key is entered by a user or obtained by the system.
The method for utilizing a mangled installation key as described in the previous claim, where the installation key that is used to generate the mangled installation key is either manually entered by the user during software installation, or is automatically obtained by the computer system itself.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein designating the combination code and the key obfuscation algorithms in the subset comprises generating the combination code based on the selected ones of the predetermined key obfuscation algorithms.
In the method for utilizing a mangled installation key as described previously, generating a combination code and the key obfuscation algorithms in the subset consists of generating the combination code based on the specific selected key obfuscation algorithms to be used. This means the combination code directly reflects which algorithms from the master set are being used for encryption and decryption.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seed data comprises data that is retained, stored or generated by the system.
In the method for utilizing a mangled installation key as described previously, the seed data which is used to generate the combination key consists of data that is either stored, retained or generated by the computer system. This ensures the combination key generation has a consistent input.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising decoding the mangled installation key by processing the mangled installation key with the combination code for producing a result installation key.
The method for utilizing a mangled installation key as described previously, includes a step where the mangled installation key is processed using the combination code by the decoder. This decoding step aims to produce a result installation key which should match the original installation key if the license is valid.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the result installation key is equivalent to the installation key.
In the method for utilizing a mangled installation key including decoding the mangled installation key as described previously, the result installation key produced by the decoding process is equivalent to the original installation key that was initially provided.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the decoding further comprises accessing a subset of key obfuscation algorithms from a copy of the master set of key obfuscation algorithms provided at the decoder based on the combination code to process the mangled installation key with the subset of key obfuscation algorithms used to produce the result installation key.
In the method for utilizing a mangled installation key including decoding the mangled installation key as described previously, the decoding process involves accessing a subset of key obfuscation algorithms from a copy of the master set that is provided at the decoder. The subset is selected based on the combination code, and these algorithms are then used to process the mangled installation key, ultimately generating the result installation key.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the encoder and decoder are implemented by a programmed processing device.
The encoder and decoder components, used in the method for utilizing a mangled installation key as described previously, are implemented using a programmed processing device. This means the encoding and decoding functionalities are realized through software executed on a processor.
9. A computer license validation system for generating a mangled installation key for invalidating an illegally produced key, the system comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store a master set comprising a plurality of predetermined key obfuscation algorithms; a microprocessor functionally executing an encoder; an encryption unit; and a second microprocessor functionally executing a decoder; wherein the encoder is configured to designate a combination code that specifies selected ones of the predetermined key obfuscation algorithms stored in the master set to be included in a subset, the key obfuscation algorithms in the subset being selected from among the predetermined key obfuscation algorithms in the stored master set and not including all of the predetermined key obfuscation algorithms of the master set; wherein the encoder and the decoder are provided with the combination code before any installation key is obtained; the encoder generates a combination key by processing seed data with the subset of key obfuscation algorithms specified by the combination code; wherein the encryption unit generates a mangled installation key by processing an installation key with the combination key; and wherein the decoder decodes the mangled installation key by processing the mangled installation key with the algorithms specified by the combination code to obtain the installation key.
A software licensing system designed to prevent the use of illegally generated keys. The system includes a storage medium holding a set of key encryption algorithms (master set). An "encoder" selects a subset of these algorithms based on a "combination code". An "encryption unit" mangles the original "installation key" using a "combination key", which is derived from seed data and the selected subset of algorithms. A "decoder" then attempts to recover the original key from this mangled key using the same "combination code". This process makes illegally generated keys unusable because the correct combination of algorithms, as defined by the "combination code," is required for successful validation.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a key server for generating a key pair comprising the installation key and an activation key.
The computer license validation system for generating a mangled installation key as described previously also includes a key server. This key server is responsible for generating a key pair, consisting of the installation key and an activation key.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the installation key is received from a user, received from an application and/or determined by the license validation system.
In the computer license validation system for generating a mangled installation key as described previously, the installation key is obtained in various ways: it can be received directly from a user, retrieved from an application, or generated/determined internally by the license validation system itself.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the encoder, encryption unit and decoder are implemented by a programmed processing device.
In the computer license validation system for generating a mangled installation key as described previously, the encoder, encryption unit and the decoder are all implemented using a programmed processing device. This indicates that these components are realized through software instructions executed on a processor.
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August 26, 2015
May 23, 2017
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